Cooking Stream Encore
“How’s this? Looks pretty legit, right?”
To cut to the chase.
The Valentine's Ddukbokki-making stream was a smashing success.
I stared at the prettily made Ddukbokki right in front of me.
How much are these worth altogether?
Back in their peak, didn't each one go for ten thousand won?
Well, prices have probably dropped a lot now.
Even Cardife, infamous for being pricey, was actually pretty cheap.
“Shall we taste one?”
“Just prove you watched the stream today and leave a post on the cafe.”
I decided not to limit Ddukbokki shipments.
Anyone who watched the stream and posts on the cafe gets one randomly—totally fair...
“...What’s wrong?”
Did I say something wrong?
I asked, tilting my head in confusion...
“No, then what? You have to leave an address to ship it.”
This is so unfair.
Who do they think I'm trying to scam?
I set it up that way purely for fairness, with the kindest intentions.
...Okay, sure, there was some intent to nudge cafe memberships.
Viewers are so quick on the uptake...
“No way~ That's genius, you guys are all Einsteins.”
Tsk, what a shame.
Truth is, for a streamer, an active fan cafe is always a good thing, right?
I've gotta put in the legwork to revive our ghost-town fan cafe.
“Anyway, time to eat.”
Oh, by the way—I made the Ddukbokki, but I can't eat it.
Why? What even is Ddukbokki?
As you just saw: mix white chocolate into Cardife dough.
Wrap in roasted marshmallows... etc.
Point is, not the kind of food a model should eat right before a fashion show.
I'm flying out in two days—gotta try on outfits and everything, so I need to be in peak condition.
With that in mind...
“How's the taste?”
“Huh? It's good?”
Ah-seong ate it for me.
Of course he can—guy could eat ten or a hundred Ddukbokki and it'd be fine.
His basal metabolism is sky-high anyway; he doesn't gain weight easily.
Plus, he's super active.
“Hear that, everyone? Verified deliciousness. Made by pros.”
“How's it compare to the real thing?”
I skipped over my not-eating part and asked Ah-seong.
I followed the recipe exactly, but was curious how it stacked up to the store-bought ones.
“Huh? Never had it before.”
Ah-seong, shoving the second one in his mouth, shakes his head.
“What? You've never had Ddukbokki?”
FYI, neither have I. But Ah-seong's a different story.
Wasn't he grinding at cram school during the big trend?
“Never ate it with your girlfriend?”
Wait, but he dated in cram school, right?
At that age, dating means Ddukbokki, butter rice cakes, spring onion bibimbap—all the trends, right?
I asked, puzzled, and Ah-seong just shrugged.
“Not into paying for trends.”
“Really? Your girlfriend probably wanted some.”
That's when my old mentor, Eunsa Han Seonghwa's words come to mind.
“Why do this stuff? It's expensive and not even that pretty.”
“You blind fool.”
I was complaining about some trendy bag charm popular in class back then.
“Following trends is a woman's instinct from our hunter-gatherer days.”
Something about building empathy within the tribe...
Tough words, don't remember exactly.
“So keep it to yourself, turn a blind eye, and play it cool.”
Anyway, it's not ugliness—it's genetic design.
Recalling his “blind fool, close one eye” advice, I scolded Ah-seong, who gave me a baffled look.
“Why the face?”
“You said it yourself, sis.”
“Huh?”
“A real man leads the woman...”
“Stop stop!”
No, when did I... hmm.
...Yeah, I probably did say that.
Our traditionalist Eunsa Han Seonghwa gave lectures on patriarchy too.
I can't deny it.
I was heavily influenced by Han Seonghwa back then.
And it trickled down to Ah-seong.
Which snowballed into him trying Ddukbokki for the first time now.
“Ahem, as long as it tastes good, we're golden. Time to package.”
“Jeez, just eat it then.”
Guess I can't let it slide.
With a sigh, I beckoned Ah-seong, who plated one and brought it over.
“Mmm, tasty.”
FYI, I didn't eat it.
Just set it aside.
Give it to Mom later, or let Ah-seong have another.
“Anyway, time to wrap up.”
I steered away from the eating talk.
Stream's been going long enough anyway.
Packaging after sign-off—tons to do.
Dishes too; Ah-seong's in for it.
But viewers weren't ready to end, grabbing my pant leg right away.
Maybe 'cause it's hiatus after today—they're clinging hard.
“Got questions for my bro?”
Ah-seong turned at my words.
Curious now that it's about him.
FYI, only I see the chat.
He's sweet now, but our chat's mostly savage.
No tolerance for that stuff—he'd never get it.
Never even played League to build up anon chat immunity.
Why no League?
We've only had one PC forever.
No fixed owner.
PC bangs? Nah, baseball club plus jiu-jitsu.
Friends all in that scene, trainee in high school too.
Lived straight-edge.
'Lucky bastard...'
What sister sacrifices for bro to be the League queen?
He should appreciate it.
“What's up?”
Glancing at chat amid those thoughts, questions flood in.
Mostly nonsense or red-pill bait about me.
So transparent.
“What're they saying?”
“How they come across?”
“Huh? Uh...”
I picked a decent one since he seemed curious.
Ah-seong pondered, then scratched his head.
“Sis's friends?”
Reactions say it was a killer answer.
Kid knows how to rack up points.
“Who said my friends?”
“Kidding.”
Yeah yeah, great friends.
Ah-seong nailed it.
Who else comes to watch my games?
None of my model friends do.
“Still kinda weird though.”
“What is?”
Ah-seong hesitated at my question.
Like, should he say it?
“C'mon, spill casually.”
I'd banned red-pill talk pre-stream.
Figured it'd be something else, so I waved him on.
Plus, kid's learning to butter me up.
Just got into a nearby uni—bound to guest more.
Early points for him, so I waited...
“Nah, that... weird character? Why keep it up...”
“Hey now!”
Ah-seong just whiffed big-time.
No virtual sensibilities, huh.
“Ah! I like manga too.”
Realizing his slip from my face, he backpedaled hard...
“What've you read?”
“Lately, Demon Slay...”
“Stop.”
Normies don't get manga.
“Saw it at the theater with my girl last time...”
In the end, Ah-seong and the viewers are worlds apart.
“Tsk, normies...”
I clicked my tongue, and Ah-seong shot me a what-the-hell look.
Same face he'd give anyone else, but whatever.
I'm no normie.
Just a few small circles, business contacts mostly.
“Alright, ending stream—off to League.”
“Those craving handmade Ddukbokki, post proof on the cafe...”
Whatever, just post on the cafe!
Revive the cafe!
“Bro, say bye!”
“Uh, yeah, bye.”
And so.
Wayo's Valentine's stream ended with the bro-in-law waving.
Two days later.
I flew to Paris.
“All this?”
“Fighting!”
I left the Ddukbokki shipping to Ah-seong.